Transmission of Tomato Ringspot Virus from Dandelion via Seed and Dagger Nematodes

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Abstract
Seedlings from 5 tomato ringspot virus (TmRSV)-infected common dandelion (T. officinale) plants were assayed for the virus. An average of 24% of the seedlings were infected. Mean percent germination of seeds from TmRSV-infected and uninfected dandelion plants was the same. Xiphinema rivesi was able to acquire TmRSV from infected dandelion plants and transmit it to uninfected seedlings. Common dandelion is a major natural reservoir for TmRSV in Pennsylvania [USA] and the potential importance of this weed in the epidemiology of TmRSV-induced orchard diseases is discuussed.